Bytecode transformations using virtual artifacts

Abstract

Methods and systems for transforming bytecodes using virtual artifacts are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes receiving a build request to convert source code into a first bytecode. A first virtual artifact may be identified within the source code and it may be determined that a local repository does not store the first virtual artifact. A real artifact that corresponds to the first virtual artifact may be retrieved from a centralized repository. A bytecode transformation may be applied to the real artifact to generate a second bytecode and the second bytecode may be added to the first bytecode.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 executing, by a processor, a build process for converting source code for an application into application bytecode, wherein the application bytecode includes first bytecode, and wherein the build process involves:
 requesting, by the processor and from a repository, second bytecode associated with a virtual artifact that is within the source code for the application; 
 in response to determining that the repository does not store the second bytecode associated with the virtual artifact, retrieving, by the processor, third bytecode associated with a real artifact that corresponds to the virtual artifact, wherein the third bytecode is usable with a first environment; 
 applying, by the processor, a bytecode transformation to the third bytecode, wherein the bytecode transformation involves replacing at least a portion of the third bytecode to thereby generate fourth bytecode that is usable with a second environment; and 
 adding, by the processor, the fourth bytecode to the application bytecode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third bytecode is retrieved from the repository or another repository. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first bytecode is generated based at least in part on real artifacts stored in the repository or another repository. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying the virtual artifact in the source code by executing a classifier that is configured to analyze the source code and determine whether a line of the source code corresponds to the virtual artifact or the real artifact.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the classifier is further configured to identify the bytecode transformation used to generate the fourth bytecode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the fourth bytecode in the repository in association with the virtual artifact. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application bytecode is executable bytecode stored in memory. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 execute a build process for converting source code for an application into application bytecode, wherein the application bytecode includes first bytecode, and wherein the build process involves:
 requesting, from a repository, second bytecode associated with a virtual artifact that is within the source code for the application; 
 in response to determining that the repository does not store the second bytecode associated with the virtual artifact, retrieving third bytecode associated with a real artifact that corresponds to the virtual artifact, wherein the third bytecode is usable with a first environment; 
 applying a bytecode transformation to the third bytecode, wherein the bytecode transformation involves replacing at least a portion of the third bytecode to thereby generate a fourth bytecode that is usable with a second environment; and 
 adding the fourth bytecode to the application bytecode. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor for causing the processor to:
 determine that the repository stores the second bytecode associated with the virtual artifact; and   based on determining that the repository stores the second bytecode, retrieve the second bytecode corresponding to the virtual artifact from the repository.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the third bytecode is retrieved from the repository or another repository. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first bytecode is generated based at least in part on real artifacts stored in the repository or another repository. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the virtual artifact is identified by a classifier of a build environment that executes the build process. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the build environment is an extension of an integrated development environment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the build environment includes a network proxy that receives build requests from multiple computing environments. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to:
 store the fourth bytecode in the repository in association with the virtual artifact.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the application bytecode is executable bytecode stored in the memory. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:
 execute a process for converting source code for an application into application bytecode, wherein the application bytecode includes first bytecode, and wherein the process involves:
 requesting, from a repository, second bytecode associated with a virtual artifact that is within the source code for the application; 
 in response to determining that the repository does not store the second bytecode associated with the virtual artifact, retrieving third bytecode associated with a real artifact that corresponds to the virtual artifact, wherein the third bytecode is usable with a first environment; 
 applying a bytecode transformation to the third bytecode, wherein the bytecode transformation involves replacing at least a portion of the third bytecode to thereby generate fourth bytecode that is usable with a second environment; and 
 adding the fourth bytecode to the application bytecode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the third bytecode is retrieved from the repository or another repository. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the application bytecode is executable bytecode stored in memory. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the source code is also stored in the memory.